Category: Book Related

Monthly TBR – March 2026

Posted on March 5, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s monthly TBR post contains affiliate links to Amazon if you wish to purchase any of the books featured today. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this feature I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

My March monthly TBR is probably my most ambitious to date! With a goal of completing the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge, plus books to read for blog tour obligations, my own readalong and book club… I have a hearty mix!

I’m looking forward to pushing myself. I’ve had a productive reading year so far and the variety of books on this list means there is likely something for every mood (if I need the change!).

There are also a few books I’ve snagged from the library. No less than three of the books on this list are on loan to me currently. Others I owned already, some have been gifted for the purpose of review and the only two purchased were done with Audible credits. It doesn’t happen most of the time…

If you’re aiming to complete the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge before the end of March, I hope some of today’s featured books offer some inspiration.

Fixed Reads

Throne of Glass

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

As a carryover from my February TBR, Throne of Glass will be my first completion of March. Hopefully! I’m behind on my own readalong, which is hardy a good look 🤣 Nevertheless, these things happen. I’m keen to catch up, because no surprise here, but book two is also on this TBR and I really need to get back on track.

As I talked about in my monthly wrap-up for February, I’m getting on with Throne of Glass better than I thought. As at the end of the month, I was 26% through. I’ve already tagged on another 10% without trying. I’m hopeful this can be a quick finish!

Rose Red

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I am touring for a book called Rose Red later this month. I am trying this with a new tour provider, and the way they do things as a little bit different. Rather than having a set date well in advance, this tour provider seems to schedule nearer the time. Consequently, I don’t exactly know what date I will be posting my thoughts. However, I am going to have this book read ahead of the first tour date which is the 22nd March. That way, I’m ready for the tour whenever I’m scheduled.

Rose Red caught my attention because the premise of the book is a romantasy fairytale retelling, with a bit of a feminist angle. Based on Snow White, I’m intrigued to see what plot line this book follows. Having recently enjoyed a dark fantasy retelling in the form of After the Forest by Kell Woods, I’m keen to continue with the theme of fairytale retelling to see if there’s something I want to read more of.

Storm of Mercia

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I am pleased to feature again a historical fiction series I have loved so far. Storm of Mercia is the ninth instalment in M.J. Porter’s Eagle of Mercia Chronicles series. I have followed this series since the first book was published, featuring all but one book as part of the publication blog tours. The protagonist is one of my favourite characters in the genre. At the start of the series, he didn’t fit the mould for your traditional character. Whilst he has come on leaps and bounds since then, his fundamental values remain the same and his personal character growth is enjoyable to follow. These books are also full of action, so we are never bored.

I’m looking forward to sharing this review of the latest ninth book in the series soon. That blog tour review is going live right at the beginning of April, so naturally, I’m featuring this book on my March monthly TBR so I’m ready to go on the 2nd.

Wild Dark Shore

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Getting into the books I’m reading as part of the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge, I’m starting with Wild Dark Shore. This book is a great one to pick up this month, because reading it will qualify for two achievements in the challenge. Wild Dark Shore appealed to me for a number of reasons as well. The premise is interesting and involves a character washing up somewhere after nearly drowning. They also have an interesting dynamic with their family, as I found out when I featured the book in a recent First Lines Friday post.

Needless to say, this is a highly anticipated mystery on this March monthly TBR. I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this one in due course.

1984

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Stepping away from my Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge momentarily, I am picking up George Orwell‘s 1984 for my own reasons this month.

When I shared my 2026 resolutions, I featured both 1984 and a retelling of the story on my fixed reads list. I have wanted to read these books side-by-side, or one after the other, since I received a copy of Julia. Firstly, I want to go back to the dystopian world as we know and love and as originally written by George Orwell. Having not had a good experience with this book 1st time round during my school years, I have already re-read it once in my lifetime and enjoyed the book significantly more as a result of not having to study it. Fingers crossed my third read is as enjoyable as my second!

Julia

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Following on from 1984, it shouldn’t be a surprise then that Julia is going to be the next book on my list. After enjoying the refresher of the world as originally written, I’m keen to see how closely or far out this retelling is. I have no idea as of writing this March monthly TBR post. I’m looking forward to being surprised one way or the other. The added bonus of picking up these two books is that Julia qualifies for one of the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge prompts. Under the achievement for retellings, Julia naturally is a perfect fit. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to tick two books on my fixed reading list for 2026 off.

It’s also been a little while since I got my copies of these books, so it’s exciting to get to them at last!

A Study in Scarlet Women

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

A Study in Scarlet Women qualifies for the Goodreads prompt Swoony Stories. As I shared in my Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge announcement video on YouTube, it’s the prompt I found the most difficult to find a book for. Not being a big romance reader (not that you’d know it from this TBR, or even my last one), I need something other than a romance in order to keep my engagement with a book.

What appealed to me about A Study in Scarlet Women is that it’s almost a spinoff or variation on the character of Sherlock Holmes. Whilst the main character isn’t the main man we know and love, the pseudonym is used by a female protagonist to investigate and clear the names of family members accused of a crime. The mystery element is definitely going to help me with this romance. Not only that, but I’m keen to see how the reimagining of Sherlock Holmes plays out in this completely different narrative.

An Arcane Inheritance

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

It’s been a little minute since I picked up a dark academia novel. The last time I picked up the genre, I did so in the form of If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio. This is very different from An Arcane Inheritance in that that first book tackles a group of actors and the group dynamics of a troop who specialise in Shakespeare.

An Arcane Inheritance is very different. I’m picking up this book because it was on my TBR and qualifies towards the ‘Black Heritage’ prompt. I had hoped my recent listen of Barack Obama’s Dreams from my Father would have qualified. That’s not necessarily the reason I picked it up, but the timing was perhaps a little influenced by this challenge. Nevertheless, it was a great read. Instead, I get to pick up another book and I’m looking forward to getting back to dark academia. It’s not a genre I read a lot of, so it’s a refreshing change when I do.

Looking at Women Looking at War

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

When I shared my Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge list, I had to take a guess at a book that would qualify for the Women’s History challenge. The list of qualifying books was only released on the 1st March. I had hoped to read Eve by Cat Bohannon. This is a book about the evolution of humanity and how women’s biology and evolution shaped that. Unfortunately, this book does not qualify. If it had, that would have been another read that overlapped with my fixed reading list in my resolutions post. Never mind!

Instead, I am picking up a book called Looking at Women Looking at War. This book is an interesting one because it focuses on some very recent history.

A young woman, Victoria Amelina – a writer living in Ukraine – started documenting war crimes in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022. Unfortunately, she would never see the end of the war. She was tragically killed just a year into the conflict as a result of a Russian missile.

However, not letting that stop her hard work from getting noticed, her efforts were published as Looking at Women Looking at War. Obviously, this is far from a complete account given the conflict is still ongoing. However, as a fairly recent history, I’m looking forward to both seeing what’s really going on behind the scenes. That, and to commemorate the bravery of a woman willing to expose the truth.

Crown of Midnight

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Unsurprisingly, given I’ve already published my intended timeline for this readalong, I’m looking to pick up the second book in Sara J Maas’ Throne of Glass series later this month.

As this one is for my own deadline as opposed to for the purpose of meeting a challenge, I have put this towards the end of my March monthly TBR. However, I’m hoping to catch up so I’m not overlapping too far into April at the very least. If Crown of Midnight is anything like the first instalment Throne of Glass, I’m hopeful it will be very easy to read. It’s also only a few hundred pages, so not too big of a commitment. The later books in the series are longer and will require more time investment. However, I can’t get away with some flexibility early while the books are only 300 pages or so…

Mood Reads

The Astral Library

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, I have an audiobook on my March monthly TBR for a relatively new release of February. On YouTube, I shared a video of new releases in 2026 I was really looking forward to. The second book on this list (the first was Dear Debbie, which I finished listening to very recently) is The Astral Library.

This book caught my attention because it sounds similar to a book I love. Reminiscent of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, the premise involves a form of living a life through pages in a book. If you have read The Midnight Library, you will know that the protagonist explores multiple variations in how their life could have gone by picking up a book in which this life is encapsulated. This is purely the protagonists interpretation as opposed to a fixed idea in the book. The protagonist had a special relationship with a librarian at school. So, this is how the idea manifested for her. As an avid reader, this clearly resonated with me. Exploring something similar in The Astral Library is something I’m looking forward to!

Summary

I’m aiming high in this March monthly TBR – I don’t think anyone can argue against that! The heat is on to complete the Goodreads 2026 Winter Challenge. Will I achieve it? Place your bets now! 😂

Thanks for reading today’s March monthly TBR – are you having a go at this challenge?

Monthly Wrap-Up – February 2026

Posted on March 3, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s monthly-wrap-up contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

As of the end of February and this monthly wrap-up post, I am four books ahead of schedule in my Goodreads Challenge for the year to read 60 books in 2026. With seven titles added to my completed list in February, it’s fair to say I’ve had a successful month!

Compared to my monthly TBR for February, I pretty much got to the end of my reading list for the month with one current read I’m carrying forward into March. I did think I would complete this list this month. However, with a busy work week mid-month taking on a project from a colleague, I didn’t have much headroom to read in my free time for a few days and that did impact my overall progress.

Nevertheless, still managed to pull it out the bag. Two blog tour obligations helped to keep momentum going, and they were both highly-rated reads as well. It always helps when the book you pick up are well received!

Let’s take a look at where I got to!

Books Read

After the Forest

Amazon Purchase Link

At the end of my January wrap up, I shared that I was part way through after the forest by Kell Woods. I really enjoyed this dark fantasy overlap with a fairytale retailing. The darker tones of the book featuring witchcraft, war and discrimination, combined with the lighter and more familiar base of the fairytale Hansel and Gretel made for an interesting combination.

There is also a romance element to the storyline of this book. Whilst it wasn’t something I actively rooted for (it’s just not my thing, okay?), It was okay to read and didn’t detract from the narrative all my experience of it. It was refreshing to pick up something different, which has been a feature of almost every book I’ve picked up alongside the Cottagecore Fantasy Book Club.

Dreams From My Father

Amazon Purchase Link

When I published last month monthly wrap up, I had a really only just started Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. Needless to say, it was one of my first finishes in February. Having read A Promised Land a year before, it wasn’t really a surprise that I enjoyed Dreams From My Father.

Whilst this type of writing and subject is enjoyed as an exception rather than the rule, I really like Barack Obama. He’s the only political figure from whom I think I will ever read a book. Or two, as it turns out!

Dreams From My Father is about Barack’s exploration of his heritage and identity via his race. He had an unusual upbringing and being of mixed-race ethnicity in a society where there weren’t very many kids like him, he struggled with understanding who he was. Dreams From My Father is all about exploring this, and seeing how Barack matures.

Grace

Amazon Purchase Link

He wouldn’t necessarily describe February as the month to read horror. Nevertheless, I had the pleasure of reading and featuring Grace on my blog by taking part in the publication blog tour this month. What attractive my attention to grace was that the event of the book are set relatively close to Home. Set on a remote island of the West Coast of Island, Croaghnakeela is as miserable and desolate as the worst British weather can make you feel.

Combined mythology and supernatural and you can get an idea or feel for this book. I loved the links to Irish and Celtic mythology, and I even found out through my research when writing this review that there are somewhat ties to more local mythology in these figures. If you want to find out more about this book, I shared my full thoughts on Grace in my blog tour review.

An Offer From a Gentleman

Amazon Purchase Link

Doing a complete 180° once again, after finishing Grace, I listened to an audiobook copy of an offer from a gentleman from Julia Quinn. I picked this book up on a whim. I’m currently watching season four of Bridgerton on Netflix. Having started this series on telly, I decided to give this third instrument of the books ago. Doing so was a little bit of a risk. Whilst I read the Duke and I and the experience was okay, I didn’t like book two, Anthony and Kate’s story. So much so, I DNF’d it.

However, I was able to borrow a copy of the audiobook from my library. So, I thought what the hell?

And you know what ended up better than I thought given protagonist from a very different societal background class, I found her more relatable characters in the series. Whilst Benedict is still somewhat insufferable in his behaviour at the beginning, I think persevering was worth the while. My experience an offer for a gentleman was marginally better than the first instalment the Duke and I. Being I’m not a big romance reader, it was always going to be a hard push to get a five star rating.

It hasn’t put me off trying the fourth book, which is Colin and Penelope’s story however.

Blues for an Alabama Sky

Amazon Purchase Link

For the first time ever this month, I read a play in the form of Blues for an Alabama Sky. I picked up this book for our work book club, as it also has a romance element to the story.

However, in the 104 page count, this book covers far more than just a basic romance. Set in depression era America, the book follows the story of Angel and her dreams of getting out of Harlem New York. She meets a man she thinks could be the love of her life. However, throughout the book we see a number of personal differences come to the fore and challenge the relationship.

Blues for an Alabama sky was a very quick read, and I enjoyed the difficult topics that were touched upon in the narrative. It was also really enjoyable to pick up a book in a different format!

The Three Witches

Amazon Purchase Link

My second blog tour obligation, which landed right at the beginning of March, was for a book called The Three Witches by Elena Collins. I ended up picking up and completing this read pretty quickly because I had the deadline to review. However, The Three Witches was very readable. I loved the angle of the narrative and the attempt to honour historical events as closely as possible. Not only that, but also in trying to give persecuted women their voices back and highlight the true lives of women accused of witchcraft.

If you’re interested in a historical fiction aimed at telling the real stories of women in a dual timeline mystery, go and read my review of The Three Witches.

Dear Debbie

Amazon Purchase Link

In a recent YouTube video, I shared some highly anticipated 2026 releases. The first of these books is Dear Debbie, which was released in January.

It isn’t a surprise I loved this audiobook! I read Freida’s The Housemaid series in this format. Given it worked well for me, I stuck and it paid off. Not that I think reading traditionally would hamper my enjoyment, because i don’t. In order to get through all my reads, I have to pick some up in audio and I know these are easy, engaging listens.

The twist at the end of this book took me by my surprise. In a way, it shouldn’t have. However, it was very cleverly written and the storyline pulled off well.

Throne of Glass

Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, the one book left that I’m currently reading as if this monthly wrap-up is Throne of Glass. This is a readalong series I’ve started, and I was also reading this towards the romance-themed book club.

Because of my blog tour obligations, Throne of Glass took a backseat. As of the end of February, I was 26% into the book. I’ve read a little more since then, and it’s going down well so far…

I went into this book with a preconception that I may not enjoy this one. However, the romance element of the book isn’t overtaking the events of the plot and the world-building behind it. So far, so good!

Summary

February was a successful month by all accounts. No DNF’s to report, which is great news, and seven competed reads in the shortest month of the year is a win.

How many books have you picked up in February? Have you read any of the books in today’s monthly wrap-up post, or added any to your reading list as a result of today’s monthly wrap-up?

Blog Tour Review: The Three Witches – Elena Collins

Posted on March 1, 2026 by fantasyst95

The Three Witches is perfect for feminist fans looking for a gripping historical fiction novel determined to set history straight. Since the dawn of time, clever women have been branded dangerous. Troublemakers. Witches.

In The Three Witches, a mystery spanning two timelines unveils a truer tale – of women doing honest work for a community rife with superstition, and paying the ultimate price.

As always, thanks to Rachel and the author, Judy Leigh (under the pseudonym Elena Collins), for the opportunity to read this and review the book. I knew this book would tap into the historical elements I love with a modern, theatre-based present day narrative. Together, both timelines do justice to the stories of countless women demonised as witches.

Are you ready to find out more?

The Three Witches – Elena Collins

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 354

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date: 02 Mar 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Goodreads – The Three Witches

Now: When Ruthie gets the part of one of Macbeth’s famous three witches she can’t wait to get started. Inspired by the beauty of the film’s Scottish locations and the camaraderie of the cast and crew, she can leave behind the expectations of her family and her lacklustre love life, at least for now. But as echoes from the past begin whispering in Ruthie’s ear and a restless spirit draws her further into its centuries-old secrets, it soon becomes clear that only she can uncover the truth of a terrible injustice.

1050 Scotland: Isobel and her two sisters have learnt about healing from their loving mother Sidheag, and she in turn has kept them safe. But without the protection of their late father, Sidheag knows that her daughters must find husbands or their futures are at risk.

Isobel believes in love over duty and when she catches sight of King Macbeth’s stepson Lulach she can picture a happiness she had hardly dare imagine. But as heir to a Scottish throne that is drenched in blood, Lulach’s destiny is to be a warrior. When Isobel’s actions leave her and her sisters vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft there may be nothing that can keep the three women safe, not even the great Macbeth himself.

As the calls from the past grow ever louder, Ruthie has no choice. Macbeth’s witches have a story that needs to be told and the truth can no longer stay hidden…

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/TheThreeWitches

My Thoughts…

Plot

In the modern day, Ruthie gets the part of playing the third witch in a documentary about Macbeth and the potential existence of three witches in his history. Sent up to the Highlands of Scotland for filming, Ruthie discovers she may have her own ties to the individual whose character she plays. As her role set out to mimic the traditional characterisation of a witch, Ruthie starts seeing signs that a spirit may object to such demonisation, and have their own story they’d like to tell instead.

This modern day timeline is peppered with flashbacks of the lives of three sisters. Their mother was a healer and a pivotal part of the community. When their mother passes, the youngest sibling Isobel takes up this mantle. The three girls are well-known in their small community and do no end of good to support their fellows. However, it seems almost inevitable that dissenting male voices want to change the perception of these young women. The rest, sadly, is history.

Both timelines were excellent and engaging, complementing each other to form the well rounded story that is The Three Witches. I love watching each timeline unravel and to discover the ultimate fate of the young woman who are ill remembered. I neither favoured one nor the other – rather, switching between the two compelled me to read on. Naturally, I was keen to discover how these two timelines were interlinked and to read about history as we know it. Then, consider the far more realistic story of who these women really were.

Characters

A wide variety of characters span the two timelines of The Three Witches. Each have their own story to tell, and are distinct voices I enjoyed hearing from. Naturally, Ruthie and Isobel as the main protagonist in each timeline are our leading ladies in this narrative. Yet, the supporting characters (for want of an expression to define them) don’t feel basic or ancillary. They provide a rich and detailed narrative that makes the story feel realistic.

There wasn’t really a character throughout this whole book that I didn’t like or feel that they didn’t fit in. Sure, there are less favourable characters in terms of their attitude – especially towards women. However, each individual has their place. All in all, I felt The Three Witches had a pretty accurate depiction of the variety of people in both societies and how they may have helped or hindered the lives of women who men felt intimidated by.

Setting

The location of Scotland was perfect for this tale. The wildness of its history, inhabitants and the elements makes for the perfect atmosphere for such a tale. Of course, it’s also historically accurate! In books like this, I enjoy when an author does their best to honour the true history and take as few liberties as possible. Naturally, historical records aren’t always complete or available. However, it’s clear the author has done as much as she could to make the book as historically accurate as possible with the information available, but also cleverly point out when it wasn’t.

The character of Todd, the documentary director, is instrumental in conveying this information. It’s given organically throughout the narrative. At no point did I feel his role was to info-dump or fill in awkward gaps.

Narrative Style

The Three Witches is an incredibly easy read. If I’m entirely honest, I read most of the book in a single day. Yes, naturally having a deadline to review the book for the tour helped. However, I wanted to read on. I wanted to uncover the untold story. Consequently, the chapters flew by with ease an I was able to read this book for hours at a time!

What also really worked for me with this book is that I love a multiple timeline narrative. The way The Three Witches is written gives us time to explore each timeline in its own right, but each compliments the other in unravelling the underlying story.

Whilst we ultimately know what happens at the end of the earlier timeline (because of history, but also because the opening chapters start here), that doesn’t detract from the narrative. Rather, the exploration of the earlier timeline is about figuring out how the protagonist got to this position rather than the ultimate ending itself. As I said, it’s well known how young women could be accused. What’s important to this earlier timeline is why…

Summary

The Three Witches is a perfect read for historical fiction fans eager to learn the truth of the lives of women falsely accused of witchcraft. It’s a heartbreaking tale that will tug at your heartstrings, cleverly packaged in an engaging, highly-readable mystery. If you want to read a novel that not only highlights the injustice and crimes committed against young women, but gives their voice back, The Three Witches is perfect for you.

I can only hope my review of The Three Witches has done the book justice and you want to read it for yourself! Don’t just take my word for it though – be sure to check out other reviews posted as part of the tour. I particularly like how @Wendyreadsbooks summarised her thoughts on the book, but of course, there are still four more days on the tour and plenty of reviewers to hear from!

Author Bio

Elena Collins is the pseudonym for Judy Leigh, the million-selling author of Five French Hens , The Old Girls’ Network and The Silver Haired Sisterhood. Judy writes uplifting novels in the ‘second chances’ and ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. Elena Collins’ novels are historical/ dual timelines. In 2025, her novel The Wicked Lady received the RNA award in this category. Judy has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @judyleighuk

Twitter: @JudyLeighWriter

Instagram: @judyrleigh

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/ElenaCollinsnewsletter

Bookbub profile: @elenacollins

Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers

Posted on February 17, 2026 by fantasyst95

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is an interesting topic. When I started thinking about this week’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, I was curious to see what variety of books and genres I could include on this post.

When I mentioned this in my Sunday Summary at the weekend, I shared my suspicion that I’d feature a lot of historical fiction here. However, I think I’ve got a respectable mix! Yes, there are four of ten on this list that fit in that category. However, I’ve also got non-fiction, mysteries and literary fiction on the list.

Curious to see what made the cut? Let’s take a look!

Books for Armchair Travellers

Literary Fiction

The Great Passage

Based in Japan, The Great Passage is a fun literary fiction that gave me some real insight into Japanese culture.

I really enjoyed this book recently. If, like me, you read more in the way of westernised books and settings, The Great Passage is an eye-opener. This also appeals to fans of books, words and language. That’s what drew me to the book. As a lover of language and the meaning of words, a protagonist who shares that passion is a refreshing change. Whether the culture or the plot of this book appeals, its a fabulous read for anyone looking to read outside of their normal parameters.

Historical Fiction

The Saxon Stories

Events of The Saxon Stories span the entirety of the United Kingdom. Whilst that’s not really much in the way of exploration for me, there are readers checking out my blog that don’t live quite as close as I do.

What I also love about this series is that it doesn’t stay in one place for long. Throughout the series, travel itself is a significant part of the narrative – and its not forced. The nature of the storyline has the protagonist Untried up and down the country on a regular basis. Sometimes at King Alfred’s request, other times… not.

I’m only seven books into this thirteen book series and already Bernard Cornwell’s set a precedent for the rest of the books.

All the Light We Cannot See

Set across European soil, All the Light We Cannot See spans two main protagonists and a few chapters from Marie-Laure’s father.

This World War II fiction novel is split predominantly across France and Germany, although the characters also move around somewhat. The biggest draw for me into this narrative is reading the perspective from a blind character. I’ve read a lot of WWII books, but it’s completely different visualising an unfamiliar place not from the appearances, but from it’s feel, distance judged by paces and drain covers and by its smells.

It’s very unique, and it was my favourite part of the narrative.

Warrior Prince

Most Viking stories I’ve read are set in the UK and I’ve already featured one of those here. However, Warrior Price is set across Eastern Europe including Russia. In the grand scheme of things, it makes sense that the UK isn’t the only landmass the Vikings would travel to. There well-known travellers after all!

Warrior Prince is a totally different setting, but one that really works. We have all the action and drama, battles and conflict we expect from the Vikings. However, there’s an extent of political intrigue in Warrior Prince as well.

Three Sisters

A traditional WWII historical fiction set in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Poland. Heather Morris does a fantastic job of memorialising the stories of individuals who suffered through the atrocities that took place here. It’s a tough one to do well. It’s a difficult subject to tackle, but Heather does a fantastic job.

Of course, Heather has written all the books as part of this series, so if it’s a rabbit hole you enjoy exploring (like I do), then this is definitely up your alley!

Mystery/Thriller

The Atlantis Covenant

I confess, I didn’t expect to feature mysteries/thriller novels on this list. However, a recent read of The Atlantis Covenant makes this book an easy pick. The events of this particular book, and the characters involved, span the globe.

Some secrets managed to survive across the globe and an international effort from UK, US and other national citizens globetrot to uncover lost history and civilisations.

Eruption

A high octane read if you want to explore the isles of the United States, is Eruption by Michael Crichton.

Bonus points if you love reading how the geography of a place like Hawaii could be devastated by a volcanic eruption. As someone who went to Iceland last year and indulged in museum visits and learning more about the power of mother nature, eruption suited me.

In Eruption we roam volcanoes on foot and fly over partial eruptions in daring helicopter pursuits. Dare-devils be warned, you’ve met your match in John MacGregor.

Non-Fiction

The Woman Who Would be King

Pre-historic Africa also features on today’s Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers.

The Woman Who Would be King is the story of Hatshepsut, an unusual figure in history. One of just a few female pharaohs of her time, she ruled for around twenty years. Egypt prospered under her reign. Whilst her successors and history has not been so kind to her, she is one of the best-known female Pharoahs for her feats and the countries prosperity under her rule.

Twelve Years a Slave

Set in South America, Twelve Years a Slave tells the story of Solomon Northup, born a free American man. That’s not to last, however. He is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hard labour and cruel conditions mark the next 12 years of Solomon’s life.

Deep South America, particularly Louisiana, is the feature of this book. Solomon spends his servitude in lumber mills, cotton fields and sugar plantations. He has many owners before he is able to secure his release via his family.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

This books features on this list in a way the others don’t – I haven’t read this one. Rather, I was recommended this book by a colleague Isabelle at work at lunchtime. Whilst Izzy is more of a quiet reader than I am, I’ve taken a few recommendations from her now.

This book is about murders that take place in Rome. I don’t know much more than that, but I’m intrigued. I hope it catches your eye too…

Summary

Whilst I haven’t managed to quite span the 7 continents in this Top Ten Tuesday – Books for Armchair Travellers post, we’re pretty close. Not only that, but I’ve done so with a variety of book and genres.

Regardless of your preferred genres or types of books, I think there’s something here for most readers.

Where is your next ~~book~~ adventure taking you?

Blog Tour Review: Grace – A.M. Shine

Posted on February 12, 2026February 11, 2026 by fantasyst95

If you enjoy sinister, supernatural horror, you must read on and find out more about Grace by A.M. Shine. This newly released novel packs a punch with its plot-twists; I read the book in just a few days!

Before I tell you why you should read this book, first I’d like to say thanks to Rachel and the author, A.M. Shine, for the opportunity to read this and review the book. And, I’m reviewing this book on the first day of the organised tour, which is a privilege. I had a great time with this book, and I have no doubt you will too! Let’s just hope I can convince you to pick up this exciting read.

Are you ready to find out more?

Grace – A.M. Shine

Genre: Horror

Pages: 304

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Head of Zeus

Original Publication Date: 10 Feb 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25

Goodreads / Storygraph

A haunting, atmospheric modern Gothic horror tale based on traditional Irish mythology, from the author of smash hit The Watchers. Ancient evil is awakened on a lonely isle off the coast of Ireland.

TO LEARN THE TRUTH
WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?

Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn’t been a child born on the island for thirty years. Others speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really knows what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.

They are mistaken.

Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born – and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.

As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.

Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/GraceCR

My Thoughts…

Plot

Grace is a spooky narrative with a dark past and sinister current events to unravel.

Grace has plenty of twists in its tale. Just as we think we know where the plot is going to take us, there’s an unseen curveball that challenges what we think we know. I loved reading this book and questioning what I was being told. What is true, what is just superstition and what isn’t quite what it seems. The answer is a lot, but can you see it coming?

The tension of the narrative had me reading chapter after chapter. What more could I learn, or discern over the next few pages? I was determined to find out. And so, reading this book became both easy in its compulsivity and challenging in its stretching the supernatural boundaries. I loved it!

Characters

The personification of the Bodach in Irish mythology intrigued me and had me reading more. Turns out, there are also occasional ties of this figure to us here in the Isle of Man (Manannán mac Lir). Might explain why we call the fog Manannan’s cloak, right? I enjoyed this link! Local mythology, not just the Isle of Man, but including the UK and Ireland, isn’t something I see a lot of. However, I enjoyed exploring this in the context of a horror novel.

I don’t think any character in Grace is innocent. We enter the story of Grace from the titular characters perspective. Grace travels to the island of Croaghnakeela (pronounced KROH-nuh-keel-uh), knowing very little about the history or what she’s getting into. We know very little at the start, but it’s very apparent the residents are hiding something. Something big. They’re frightened, and if we are, then so should we be. These ordinary people have lived extraordinary lives, in supplication to an evil that haunts their past.

Setting

The setting of this desolate, sparsely populated island is deeply atmospheric in a way that felt lifelike. As a Manxie, I live geographically not far away from Croaghnakeela Island. Similar climate, topography, maybe just a bit bigger. Even so, the quiet, sometimes dilapidated small town community of both my life and in the setting of Grace is on-point. Maybe our boats are a fraction more reliable. Maybe…

The atmosphere of the book lends well to the plot, working alongside each other to complement the supernatural events and secretiveness of the island’s dark past. I loved how well this was done; not laying it on thick and overdoing it, on the contrary, in an entirely believable way. As I say, I have the benefit of a benchmark for credibility, but its fair to say fans of the horror genre will doubt agree with me.

Narrative Style

The pacing of Grace is perfect. Whilst we know very little about events both in the past and what is unfolding in modern day, we’re teased with tidbits as the novel and storyline unfolds. The pace ramps up the further along we get. Towards the end of the book, I was so hooked I stayed up to read to the end and discover the truth. Reading the conclusion of this book at midnight – maybe not for the faint of heart.

At just over 300 pages, it’s an approachable narrative for readers of all lengths and abilities. I read this book over four days, meaning I was easily averaging 70 pages a day. It wasn’t any degree of effort to do it either – the pacing of the story, combined with the mystery, had me desperate to find out more!

Summary

Grace is perfect for fans of horror and supernatural reads! At 300 pages, it’s a quick, dark and atmospheric read that leans into Irish mythology to create the sinister plot that has us readers asking questions throughout the narrative.

If you’re still undecided, check out my fellow reviewers thoughts on the book over the coming days of the tour. You won’t regret giving it a try – promise!

Author Bio

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master’s Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. He is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, The Watchers, has been made into a major motion picture produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Follow him on @AMShineWriter and www.amshinewriter.com

Social Media Links –

https://x.com/AMShineWriter

https://www.instagram.com/nocturn_al_shine/

Follow Aries

Twitter: @AriesFiction

Facebook: Aries Fiction

Instagram: @headofzeus

Website: http://www.headofzeus.com

Monthly TBR – February 2026

Posted on February 3, 2026 by fantasyst95

***My February 2026 monthly TBR contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

—

February’s monthly TBR features seven books, and somehow still manages to leave headroom for a reading challenge I’ll start later this month. I’m ambitious as always! This monthly TBR features two carryovers, two blog tour obligations, two book club reads and one new release I’m hoping to finish this list with.

Even then, I’m hoping to get to another book or two before the end of the month. The successful start I enjoyed in January has lit a fire under my … well, you know. I’m keen to keep up the momentum! February may be the shorter month of the year, but I don’t want it to be my least successful.

Let’s dive into my planned reads on this monthly TBR.

Fixed Reads

After the Forest

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Last month I planned to read After the Forest by Kell Woods as part of the Cottagecore Fantasy book club run by cozysabie. Whilst that did happen to an extent, I didn’t get to finish the book before the end of the month.

With that in mind, After the Forest is my priority finish given its my current read as of the beginning of February. In my January wrap-up post, I shared progress to the tune of 40% of the book. As of writing this monthly TBR I’m already further along (60%) and looking to mark this as a finish within a few days tops.

Grace

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Next, I’ve got a blog tour commitment for the 12th February, so that needs to be my next read. Compared to the fairytale retelling (with some darker themes) that is After the Forest, this gothic horror with Irish mythology is likely to feel very different…

I’m excited though! I’ve not read horror for a while. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever read around the topic of Irish mythology. I like the idea – in fact, its the reason I wanted to try the book. Here’s hoping I enjoy it and I can persuade you to read it in my upcoming review next Thursday!

The Three Witches

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Another blog tour commitment, although thankfully not until 1st March, is to review The Three Witches. This book is a historical fiction novel based around the three witch characters from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I don’t know a lot about this book other than the spirits of these characters pop up repeatedly over the course of history – its a timeslip narrative.

This multi-perspective, multi-storyline book caught my attention and I can’t wait to read it and share my thoughts in the coming weeks!

Dreams from my Father

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Last month, after DNF’ing The Doors of Midnight and finishing The Great Passage, I picked up Dreams from my Father. I wanted to pick up this audiobook after enjoying A Promised Land last year. I was pleasantly surprised by that audiobook – it turned out to be one of my favourite reads of 2025.

The focus of Dreams from my Father is a little different. Instead of being about Barack’s presidency and his political aims, Dreams from my Father is instead about exploring his heritage and discovering his identity.

So far, I’ve listened to a couple of hours of this audiobook and I’m keen to continue with it and see where it goes.

Throne of Glass

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I announced yesterday that I’m hosting a readalong for Sarah J Maas’ Throne of Glass series. I’ve never tried any of her books before. However, in an effort to try some more mainstream books and make content about them, I’ve chosen to read this series over the next seven months.

Throne of Glass may well push me out of my comfort zone. That’s not a bad thing though. Even if the book and series doesn’t end up being a favourite, I’m sure I have a lot to gain from giving it a go. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about these books as well. If you wish, join my readalongs on Fable and/or StoryGraph and I’ll post updates on my progress on YouTube. Stay tuned!

Blues for an Alabama Sky

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

I run a book club at work, and I’ve set a theme of Love in All Its Forms for our February meet.

Towards this theme, I’m hoping to read two books this month. The first coincides with my Throne of Glass readalong – it has significant romantic sub-plots after all, so it works. I’m also hoping my reading this one will relate to some different readers amongst my colleagues. Generally, I don’t read a lot of romance.

However, the second book I’m planning to read also has a romantic relationship at the heart of its story. It’s also a little more ‘academic’ in nature in that this book is on modern school syllabuses. Whereas I are up reading Of Mice and Men, this is a new take on Depression era America. It’s also a good pick for reading around Black History Month. Win-win!

Mood Reads

Dear Debbie

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

If I get to the end Dreams from my Father, and there is no reason I shouldn’t, then I’m picking up a 2026 Highly Anticipated Release I shared in a recent YouTue video. Freida McFadden recently released Dear Debbie. With my intentions to feature more topical, current new releases on my mind, I want to read Dear Debbie now. That way, I can share my review on this book whilst its still a hot topic on people’s minds, and maybe encourage you to read this one too.

All being well and if I enjoy this one as much as I expect, I’ll then be turning to Freida McFadden’s backlist.

Summary

My official February TBR has a healthy number of books on the list. Stats fans – I’ve got 1,400 pages and 17hrs 40mins on today’s list.

The size of the books on this monthly TBR should give me time towards the end of the month to pick ups some different reads. I have a bit of a reading challenge in mind to take into March. In my 2025 wrap-up post I shared an update on a resolution that didn’t get much focus in 2025. Whilst I’m not planning to revive this goal (I didn’t set it in my 2026 resolutions post), I’m thinking as a one-off I’d like to have a stab at completing the Goodreads Winter Challenge.

That needs me to read a selection of books not on this list, but I’m no less looking forward to. Not all of the challenges have been revealed. One remains a mystery, but I’ve chosen a reading list that ticks the boxes of all challenge but the last unrevealed challenge. For that one, I’ve planned a read I think will fit the prompt but if nothing else, features on my fixed TBR for 2026. It won’t be a wasted effort in any case!

So, that’s my February TBR. Have you read any books I feature on this list? Does anything catch your eye?

Throne of Glass Readalong!

Posted on February 2, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s Throne of Glass readalong announcement contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

I’m excited but also a bit nervous to announce that starting this February, I’m hosting a readalong and reviewing Sarah J Maas Throne of Glass series! I teased this post yesterday in my Sunday Summary – did you have any guesses as to the author/series?

I have not read a single book by Sarah J Maas yet. As someone who doesn’t typically read books with heavy romance sub-plots, Throne of Glass is likely to push me well out of my comfort zone. I’m looking forward to it! I am the reader I am today because I make the effort to read books that push my boundaries. Who knows, I may discover a new favourite and agree with the widely popular opinion that these books are amazing!

If you like to join readalongs in forum format, I’m hosting on both Fable and StoryGraph. Well be reading one book a month. It starts off pretty light, but towards the end of the series the books get chunkier. We’ll see how progress goes! If you want to follow along with my progress on YouTube, I’ll post updates on where I’m up to with the books throughout the month!

Reading Schedule

Throne of Glass – Book 1

Pages: 406

Reading Dates: February 2026

Review: March 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Crown of Midnight – Book 2

Pages: 420

Reading Dates: March 2026

Review: April 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Heir of Fire – Book 3

Pages: 576

Reading Dates: April 2026

Review: May 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Queen of Shadows – Book 4

Pages: 689

Reading Dates: May 2026

Review: June 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Empire of Storms – Book 5

Pages: 733

Reading Dates: June 2026

Review: July 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Tower of Dawn – Book 6

Pages: 688

Reading Dates: July 2026

Review: August 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Kingdom of Ash – Book 7

Pages: 984

Reading Dates: August 2026

Review: September 2026

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Are you joining?

If you haven’t read Throne of Glass yet, are you going to join my Throne of Glass readalong?

If you have read it, are you re-reading the series or following along with progress on YouTube?

Get your copy of Throne of Glass and join along with me!

Monthly Wrap-Up – January 2026

Posted on January 31, 2026 by fantasyst95

***Today’s monthly-wrap-up contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

The beginning of the year and setting my January TBR feels like both yesterday and a distant memory. This month has been a tale of two halves. In terms of reading progress and motivation, January has flown. Financially though, January is the looooongest month of the year.

I’m pleased with this month’s reading progress. I got to all but one book on my January TBR, and started one extra audiobook after finishing with both the audiobooks I had on the list.

Books Read

Orbital

Amazon Purchase Link

I wanted to start the year with a relatively quick read. Perhaps my choice of Orbital was a little misguided on account of the page count, however it was a fantastic read.

What Orbital lacks in page count, it makes up for in thought-provoking content. From intimate detail on life in space with five other people to the fragility of life and the pull of the Earth, this book appealed to me for its content and didn’t fail to deliver. I’ve already shared my full thoughts on the book on my new YouTube channel. If you’re interested in finding out more about this Booker prizewinner, please take a look at my video 🥺

Beyond Redemption

Amazon Purchase Link

I started Beyond Redemption in December but didn’t get too far before the end of the month. After finishing Orbital, I revisited this book. The pacing of Beyond Redemption didn’t quite work for me, so it took me until mid-January to finish it.

In my recent YouTube review of Beyond Redemption, I shared what worked and what didn’t work for me. Ultimately, I finished the book and rated it three stars. The premise was really appealing and I had high hopes for Beyond Redemption. In practice, it didn’t quite live up to my expectation. Want to deep dive into my thoughts on this one? Here’s my video review.

The Doors of Midnight

Amazon Purchase Link

I made a healthy start to The Doors of Midnight back in December and I was optimistic that it was going to be a five star read of January. However, I ultimately decided to DNF this audiobook.

When it came down to it, I found the narrative a little repetitive and interest waned. As and when opportunities came up to listen to this book, I found myself making excuses and picking up other things. That says a lot. To take a break, I started my second audiobook of the month and after enjoying that one more, it brought home to me more that I was no longer enjoying The Doors of Midnight. So, that was the decider for me.

Yellowface

Amazon Purchase Link

Looking for a pick-me-up after Beyond Redemption, I turned to an author I know I’ve enjoyed historically. Of course R.F. Kuang did not disappoint once again!

Picking up Yellowface is quite different from the two books I’ve read of hers to date (Babel and The Poppy War). However, she is the type of author who can write from a variety of backgrounds yet also discuss topics that clearly mean a lot to her to feature.

If you are unfamiliar, Yellowface is heavily about cultural appropriation and the public perception of a white author publishing a story from a minority background. I loved how this was explored, as well as the nature of being an author and the publishing industry as a whole. Needless to say, Yellowface was the hit I hoped for, and needed.

The Great Passage

Amazon Purchase Link

The Great Passage is the audiobook I picked up after DNF’ing The Doors of Midnight. I had high hopes for this audiobook already, but I especially wanted to love this book after being disappointed by that audio.

Thankfully, The Great Passage fared much better. What I really enjoyed about this audiobook is that the setting is culturally very different. It opened my eyes to a completely different way of life. I picked up this book because I loved its passion and focus on words, meanings, and the compiling of a dictionary. It excelled at all those things, but the appreciation for the cultural insights this book gives is what made it a well-rounded experience.

The Courage to be Disliked

Amazon Purchase Link

Unfortunately, The Doors of Midnight wasn’t my only DNF of the month. This month, I set a theme including self-help, learning and development for book club. On my January TBR I set out my intentions to pick up I Know I’m in There Somewhere. However, it turns out this book is very hard to get a hold of. Instead, I picked up The Courage to be Disliked…. But only read 21% before DNF’ing.

The novelty of the dialogue-style narrative quickly wore off. If readers are meant to find the character of the unnamed ‘youth’ relatable, unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark with me. They are argumentative, combative and I didn’t gel with them at all. However, I also felt the ‘professor’ was a little off too. No doubt his role was to teach the principles of Adler, and they are what they are. I didn’t agree with all of what was discussed either.

Consequently, The Courage to be Disliked didn’t last long under my nose before being set aside.

Notes on a Nervous Planet

Amazon Purchase Link

I turned to a well-known and trusted author again after this latest DNF.

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is one of my favourite books in recent history. His unique insight into mental health difficulties shone through in Notes on a Nervous Planet. This short and approachable read, written in short chapters, informal notes and tips for limiting the impact of our modern world on our mental health was insightful. I practice some of these already, such as limiting exposure to the news. However, it discusses a number of topics, like technology, social media and consumerism to name just a few.

The format of this book was quite unique, and as a result I flew through this already short book. It’s definitely encouraging me to read more of his books – I have The Midnight Train to look forward to in 2026, but also some backlist titles like Reasons to Stay Alive on my radar as well.

Dark Chronicles

Amazon Purchase Link

I signed up to review a collection of suspenseful speculative fiction stories late this month. Admittedly, I was quite late picking up this collection. However, its ease to read world in my favour so I could review these on my blog earlier this week.

For a short book, I still had plenty to say about this 178 page collection. Instead of repeating myself in this monthly wrap-up, instead I’ll direct you to my published review.

After the Forest

Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, this monthly wrap-up gets to my current and carried forced reads into February.

After the Forest is my chosen Cottagecore Fantasy read for this month as part of the Cottagecore Fantasy book club. If you like fairytale retellings, this book will also be right up your alley.

Building upon the well-known fairytale Hansel and Gretel, After the Forest brings darker topics like addiction, war and witchcraft into the future lives of the children. With trouble on their doorstep, Greta is doing everything she can to keep her brother Hans and her afloat. Suspicion is never far away, given her past.

So far, I’m enjoying this quite dark retelling. As fairytales go, it’s far from light and fluffy anyway. It feels like a great story to use as a launchpad for this type of tale. As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m 40% into the book and excited to see its conclusion.

Dreams from my Father

Amazon Purchase Link

Finally, the last book to feature in this epic monthly wrap-up (it feels as long as January did!) is Dreams from my Father. With my audiobooks planned for January either finished of DNF’d, I wanted to pick up my next audio. My preference is to have an audiobook on the go all the time, as it means I can maximise reading time when doing tasks where I can’t read traditionally.

In the last couple of days, commuting to and from work, I’ve started to listen to Barack Obama personally recount is exploration of his origins and his dream to discover his identity. Dreams from my Father is very much about his heritage and background. About how he felt adrift growing up, given his obvious African heritage but lack of the father who shared it with him.

As of this monthly wrap-up, I’m only 11% or so into this audiobook. As I said, I only really started this in the final few days of the month, and only whilst driving. I would have been a little further on if I didn’t fluff up earlier today and accidentally skip back to the beginning of my chapter. I couldn’t fix it whilst driving, so that could have been another 20 minutes or so. Never mind…

Summary

Despite a couple of DNF’s, I count January’s progress a success! I have six completions to my name at the end of this monthly wrap-up, with two more books in progress. In terms of my Goodreads Challenge, I’m getting ahead early. I don’t think I could have asked for a better start to 2026.

How many books have you picked up this January? Have you had a good start to the year?

Blog Tour Review: Dark Chronicles – Karmen Spiljak

Posted on January 27, 2026January 26, 2026 by fantasyst95

Want to try some shorter or speculative fiction in 2026? If so, then Dark Chronicles is a fantastic collection to start with!

As always, before I share my thoughts, thank you to Karmen Spiljak and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Dark Chronicles. I was provided with a copy of the book for the purposes of providing my review, but the thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Now, let’s dive in, shall we?

Dark Chronicles – Karmen Spiljak

Genre: Short Story Collection

Pages: 179

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Self published

Original Publication Date: 23 Jan 2026

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5

Goodreads – Dark Chronicles

Storygraph – Dark Chronicles

Careful what you wish for. In Dark Chronicles, wishes have teeth.

Ten speculative tales brimming with twisted humour and delicious menace: a pepper that lets you in on other people’s thoughts, a radio show that predicts your fate, and a blood-thirsty ghost who refuses to let go.

Award-winning author Karmen Spiljak delivers a chilling and razor-sharp mix of twists and dark suspense, perfect for readers who like their stories to unsettle and linger.

Ten dark tales. Ten twisted fates. One thrilling collection.

Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/Dark-Chronicles

My Thoughts…

It’s not very often I read and review a short story collection. Not unheard of either, but it’s not my main reading preference. However, there is something refreshing abut picking up a short story collection now and then.

Plot

In a month where I have picked up some lengthier and denser books, Dark Chronicles has been a refreshing change to lighten the pace. Even though shorter stories aren’t my typical medium, speculative fiction is not a stretch. In fact, I enjoy stories of this nature quite a lot. So, it was actually an enjoyable change to pick up such a book without the heaviness of a lot of world-building and the luxury of being able to set out a complex foundation. I truly believe being able to convey a message in such a small page count, and do it well, is a challenge demonstrating a lot of skill. Karmen does this incredible well.

Setting

If you like your stories with a touch of mystery and/or darker themes, then Dark Chronicles is as good a fit for you as it was for me. As genres go, it appealed to me well and the stories themselves didn’t disappoint. I loved the variety each of the ten series presented. From dystopian worlds with more advanced technology to an unusual take on something reminiscent of the effects of narcotics, Dark Chronicles includes a spectrum of stories for all. The common theme across these stories implores readers to be careful what you wish for. It may just come back to bite you…

Narrative Style

The tales and their sinister nature are both approachable to read, without compromising on the atmosphere they create. I read this book in a single day. Each story drew me in. I wanted to find out more about the characters, what they wanted, and how inevitable things wouldn’t quite turn out the way they hoped. The pacing of each of the stories is quite quick, so each can be finished in less than 10 minutes. If you can only commit to reading in short bursts, this format is perfect for you.

Equally, if you are like me, the fast-paced and ever changing narrative makes it easy to devour the book very quickly. As I said, I read this book in a day, and most of it in just a single sitting. It was very easy to do!

Summary

Short, speculative fiction is a format and genre I need to have more of on my reading list. Dark Chronicles proved an excellent palate-cleanser on my January TBR. A break from heavy fantasy books was definitely needed, and Dark Chronicles holds its own as a memorable read. If you enjoy trying new books, or are looking for a good way to try something new, make Dark Chronicles a means of exploring shorter fiction, or speculative fiction, in 2026!

It won’t come back to bite you, I promise!

Author Bio

Karmen Spiljak is Slovenian-Belgian author of suspense, horror and speculative fiction, a developmental editor and a book coach.

Her short fiction has been awarded and anthologised. Her short story collection, Add Cyanide to Taste, won the 2022 IndieReader Discovery award for best short stories/Fiction and Pass the Cyanide won the 2023 Wishing Shelf Book Awards Bronze.

She lives in Belgrade with her husband, two mischievous cats and an undefined number of literary characters. Find out more about her writing on www.karmenspiljak.com .

Social Media Links –

https://www.instagram.com/karmenseeta/

https://www.facebook.com/karmenspiljak

https://www.tiktok.com/@karmenseeta

https://www.threads.com/@karmenseeta

Ongoing Series I’m Reading in 2026

Posted on January 14, 2026 by fantasyst95

I have no less than 22 ongoing series I’m reading in 2026. Twenty-two! And that’s after a drive in my 2024 resolutions and 2025 resolutions to reduce that number.

I still have a lot to read – that feels like a MASSIVE understatement! I have some lengthy series I can only hope to progress with in 2026. Then there are others where I have anything from 1 to 5 books left that I could achieve completion of this year.

Two series are getting priority this year as they have sequels coming out in 2026. With a view to featuring more new releases this year, I want to have those read in advance of the next books coming out. Both are due in September this year, so at least I have time. It’ll be an exciting month for you too!

My latest YouTube video outlines the series on my list, where I’m up to and why I’m looking forward to continuing with them.

YouTube Video

Alternatively, here’s a summary list if you just want to have a quick nosy 🧐

List of Ongoing Series I’m Reading in 2026

Big series (that I’m looking to progress with in 2026):-

Humour/Satire

Discworld

Fantasy

The Wheel of Time
The Realm of the Elderlings
Rivers of London

Historical fiction

The Saxon Stories
The Cousin’s War

Shorter series (that I could finish in 2026):-

Fantasy

The Poppy War
The Shadow of What Was Lost
The Lotus Wars
The Silent Gods
Empire of the Vampire
The Dark Tower
His Dark Materials

Crime

The Appeal
The Thursday Murder Club

Science Fiction

The Long Earth
Soul Identity
Themis Files

Contemporary

Cerulean Chronicles

Non-Fiction

A Prison Diary

Historical Fiction

Code Name Verity

Summary

Do you have any ongoing series you’re reading in 2026? What is your favourite series ever?